safe primer storage

[mek42]

Do you guys do anything special as far as storing primers safely? I've hit the point where I'm starting to buy them by the 1000 and am starting to wonder if just keeping them on a shelf near the reloading bench is the best thing to do.

Thanks!

 

[Jim Watson]

I just put them on the shelf.

One of the manufacturers shot a pallet load of a million primers with a .30-06 to demonstrate shipping safety. Only the primers directly hit by the bullet popped, there was no propagation through the packaging.

Naturally a hot fire would be bad, but you would have other problems by then.

 

[Hazzard]

I'll second storing them on the shelf with the other components. If I only buy 1000 though, I don't have to worry about storing them long term!

 

[ReloaderFred]

The first clue as to how to store primers is how the store you bought them from had them stored/displayed. In the containers the manufacturers designed for packaging them, there is no danger. Just keep them away from direct sunlight and moisture.

I can't remember when I last bought 1,000 primers. I try to buy in cases of 5,000, so the lot numbers will be the same and so I won't run out. My last purchase of primers was a couple months ago, and it was 20,000.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Walkalong]

I keep mine in my safe in the original containers.

 

[Ala Dan]

I have a Rubbermaid 48 qt. cooler that I store my primers in; as it
keeps them free from moisture, dust, lint and such.

 

[scrat]

i just keep them on the shelf

 

[MinnMooney]

On the shelf in my reloading room (which is NOT in the basement).

 

[4fingermick]

I use 7.62 ammo tins for most and 50cal ammo tins for those dumb Federal packages. I have an ammo tin for each, SP, SR, LP, LR. Easy, dry and quick to grab and remove it there's a fire or such.

 

[cdrt]

Found an old Army wooden foot locker, cleaned it up and use it for primers since I buy them by the ton. Something about storing explosives in a metal container makes me a little nervous...probably to much time on those gray steel things that float around on the water.

Navy Vet & SWIFT Boat OIC

 

[The Bushmaster]

On a shelf above my press right next to the bullets and below the shelf with the powder.

 

[okeybug]

Storage of Primers

I use an old upright freezer. If there was ever an explosion, the door would fly open and gases would escape. It also is an excellent insulator. Primers store better if your don't subject them to extreme heat and cold. An ammo GI can is nothing but a bomb

 

[jad0110]

Primers store better if your don't subject them to extreme heat and cold.

I keep my primers in the house, but would prefer to keep them in the garage. Can someone define what "extreme heat" is as it relates to primers? 90 degrees F? 120?

 

[strat81]

I keep mine next to the furnace so they stay dry.

Actually they're on the shelf of my reloading bench.

 

[okeybug]

I keep small quanities of them in the garage and some in an old freezer that doesn't work anymore.. I have a humidifier in the garage and an air conditioner but don't run the air conditioner unless I'm working out there. They seem to keep well.

 

[RugerSAFan]

I keep a small quanity (< 1,000) in a separate drawer near my relading bench; the remainder is stored in a separate bedreoom closet.

 

[RidgwayCO]

Good question! I keep my primers in a Sentry Firesafe (the 1100 model) that will hold six boxes of 1000 primers in their original packaging. The firesafe is rated to keep the internal temperature to less than 350 degrees F in a 1500 degree fire for a half hour.

This is one of those things I've done since I first started reloading many years ago, but I'm not sure it's smart.

 

[ilbob]

I have a metal cabinet they are stored in. But I rarely have more then 5000 of each type.

 

[murph50]

Very timely post. I have been buying primers by the 1000 lot for good prices at the local gun shows for the last year or so. Starting to get a pretty good supply built up. Just this week I've been thinking about better ways of storing these things. Right now I keep them on a shelf under my loading bench. I had thought about storing in some ammo cans but explosives in a locked metal box makes me a little nervous.
I really like ala dan's idea. I've got all kinds of those rubbermaid and sterilite containers around here with the snap on lids.
Thanks ala dan. Hadn't even thought about using those. Primers in a plastic box with a couple silica moisture absorbers sounds like the way for me to go.

 

[Shoney]

Ala Dan:

Sooooooo!!!!!! I wanna get this straight. When you need a magnum pistol primer, you reach in the ice chest and grab yourself a "short hot one"?????

 

[CZ57]

Ziplock storage/freezer bags.

 

[Tom609]

I keep mine in one of those big plastic (empty) cat litter containers with a snap lid, and off in a corner away from the powder.

 

[tbtrout]

I have a 2 drawer Fire King document filing cabinet. Powder in one drawer and primers in the other. It is fire rated for 1300 degrees for 1 hour and heavy as hell. Each drawer is self contained so if one is compromised the other will maintain its integrity.